How to remove old tiles from bathroom walls

The bathroom is decorated with ceramic tiles, because it is resistant to moisture and temperature changes. Facing material is easily washed off traces of toothpaste and shower gel. But once the owners of the apartment decide to update the bathroom decor and start off the walls. And then you have to find the answer to the question of how quickly and with minimal material costs to remove ceramic tiles.

Room preparation

Dismantling of cladding material is a difficult and dusty job. Pieces of tile fall to the floor and surrounding objects, may damage the toilet or sink. The bathroom is carefully prepared for repair:

• take out the washing machine;
• remove lockers and mirrors;
• curtain windows with oilcloth or old rags;
• gently dismantle plumbing.

If you could not remove the toilet or sink, they are covered with an old blanket.Wrap a protective plaid around the product, and fasten the corners with clothespins or tape. The fabric and the wool layer soften the blows, so the plumbing will remain intact.

Lay on the floor a layer of plastic film, covered with newspapers on top. The paper prevents slipping and protects against domestic injuries. On baseboards stick construction tape. Carefully fasten the joints of the film so that dirt and dust does not settle on the floor.

Complete removal

It is simpler to dismantle a tile if it is not necessary to care of its safety. First, remove the grout from the walls:

• The sponge is moistened in soapy water or a special solution.
• Soak the seams with liquid and wait for them to soften.
• Clean loose grout with a spatula, kitchen knife or chisel.

The tiles are tapped gently with a wooden stick or handle to find areas with voids. Well, if there are pieces that are independently behind the concrete base. With them begins dismantling the tiled floor. You will need a stepladder, a spatula with a wide pointed blade and a hammer. Tools can be replaced with an ax or a drill.

Start from the top row.In the gap between the ceiling and a piece of tile insert a blade of a spatula or an ax at an angle of 45-60 degrees. The handle or wide base is hit with a hammer. Do this carefully so as not to damage the wall. When a two-thirds blade enters the cement mortar or glue, the ax or trowel is pressed by hand, separating the facing material from the brick or concrete base. One or more pieces fall off. Removing the rest will be easier.

Ceramic coating attached to the wall with tile or mounting glue, pre-soak. The seams are treated with a grinder or scrapers. After removing the grout, a stream of hot water is directed to the facing material. After 30 minutes, when the base will soften, the first tile is cut with a chisel and a hammer.

The remains of the ceramic coating are folded into thick plastic bags. Damaged tiles are separated from the whole. The latter can be used for the dacha or garage decoration. After each cleaned wall, it is recommended to sweep construction debris in order not to trample it on the floor and not to spread it throughout the apartment.

The dismantling of the old tile is carried out in the afternoon, so as not to disturb the neighborsCarefully remove the tile that covers the water pipes and electrical wiring. A chisel can damage communications by triggering a short circuit or flood.

When removing the tile you need to observe precautions:

1. Do not stand under the tile to be removed. A piece of cladding material can sharply separate from the wall and fall on the head.
2. Wear a suit with long sleeves, coarse cloth pants and boots with non-slip soles.
3. Protect your eyes from dust and fragments of tiles with glasses.
4. Use a respirator or a wet gauze bandage to keep dirt from entering the respiratory tract.
5. It is advisable to put a helmet or hat on your head, which will soften the blow if a piece of ceramic tile falls on the worker.

Partial removal

A drill and a chisel will help to remove a small area of ​​facing material that has cracks or chips. Use the usual ruler and a pencil. The work is divided into several stages:

1. On the tile they draw two diagonals that extend from adjacent corners and intersect in the center.
2. Straight lines are divided into several small segments and put bullet points.Mark the center in the same way.
3. Soak and remove the old grout.
4. Then drill holes in the marked areas of the tile.
5. A chisel is attached to the center and several times hit it with a hammer.
6. Lining material splits into 4–8 parts.
7. Pieces hook with a tool with a thin sharp blade and removed from the wall.
8. The concrete base is cleaned, plastered and glued a new tile.

Ceramic coating, which is attached to the wall with building glue, is hit several times with a rubber hammer. The tool creates vibrations, due to which the tile is independently separated from the concrete base. It remains only to pry it with a chisel and carefully remove it. Impact on brittle material lightly, so as not to crack. Do not have to use a drill, and the tile will remain intact. In order not to damage areas that cannot be dismantled, it is recommended to wrap the chisel in a rag.

Work with drywall

The walls in some apartments and houses are insulated with plasterboard plates, on top of which they glue the ceramic cladding. Such a base must be removed along with tile.Remove the tile and do not damage the sheets will, if before repairing the insulation covered with a layer of plaster. In such cases, the grout is cleaned with a kitchen knife. If the material could not be removed, the grinder makes cuts along the seam line. Cement mortar or construction glue is soaked with soapy water. Tile hooked chisel and removed.

It is easier to crush it with a chisel or a perforator, and then clean off the remains with a spatula. Facing material is torn from the wall along with a layer of plaster. Before gluing a new tile, gypsum plasterboard sheets are primed and treated with special leveling compounds.

If the tile was glued directly onto the insulation, the base cannot be saved. The facing layer is removed together with plasterboard panels.

Remove a few pieces of tile, glued to the insulation, you can hacksaw. The grout around the area to be removed is cleaned with a thin blade and a sharp tip. Cut a piece of drywall together with a facing material and, prying a chisel, removed.

The hole, which was formed after the dismantling of the tile, filled with bars or profile. Attach to the base of a new piece of drywall.It is recommended to use self-tapping screws, and on a heater make a facet.

Important: If the tile to be removed is located above the bathroom, the plumbing is covered with a board made of boards or chipboard. Sheet metal will do as well. Cover with an old blanket or blanket to protect against damage.

Dismantling the tile can be done independently, if you have the necessary tools at hand. The person removing the facing material will need a chisel and a drill, as well as protective clothing, a respirator and goggles. After all, you need to protect not only plumbing, but also your own health.

Video: how to remove the old tile from the wall